The New Zealand Warriors in 2019, much like almost every year in the history of the club, were consistently inconsistent.
There doesn’t appear to be any specific reason for this, though a contract dispute resulting in the loss of their star half Shaun Johnson in the pre-season was telling. Though consistent performances are not something Johnson has ever been renowned for, he is a player capable of producing wins through his own sheer brilliance.
Several players were tried in the 5-8 positions (Aam Keighran, Chanel Harris-Tavita and mid-season recruit Kodi Nikorima) as the club tried to find the right man to replace Johnson.
Additionally, all hooking options (Isaac Luke, Nathaniel Roache and Karl Lawton) suffered injuries at times. This rotation of players through two key positions would undoubtedly add to the difficulties of developing any consistency on the field.
The Warriors’ biggest asset is undoubtedly the skill and power of their back three. At fullback is one of the game’s elite players in Roger Tuivasa-Sheck as shown by his 2018 Dally M Medal. Joining him is 2019 winger of the year Ken Maumalolo and 2018’s top NRL try scorer David Fusitua, who had a quiet 2019 without Johnson’s flair inside him.
These three will again provide great starts to the Warriors sets and finish off any attacking opportunity in 2020.
Joining them in the backline will be a centre pairing of Peta Hiku and most likely Taane Milne. Despite having played 11 Tests for New Zealand, Hiku remains a very underrated centre. Meanwhile, Milne will be looking to finally fulfill his potential after off-season issues stalled his career.
Their backline depth is strong. Gerard Beale, who will miss the start of the season through injury, and Patrick Herbert will be undoubtedly be called upon throughout the year.
There is little to talk about with the club’s forward pack. They aren’t a pack that will dominate opposition sides nor are they a pack that will be dominated. They will be missing their best middle defender. They are certainly capable of providing enough attacking opportunities and field position for their halves.
The Warriors, however, will be wanting more from their edge backrowers. They will be hoping that star backrower Tohu Harris can have his first injury-free season in Warriors colours, having played just 13 and 16 games the last two years after joining the club from the Storm.
On the other edge, I look forward to seeing young Isaiah Papali’i continuing to develop his game. He has been solid the last two years after being an absolute superstar coming through the junior systems. If these two can show their best they will provide attacking threats on both sides of the field with first class hole running, off-loading and ball playing.
Settling on their best spine combination will be crucial for the Warriors to be successful in 2020. While Tuivasa-Sheck has a mortgage on the fullback position and the steady Blake Green will be in the halves. The final places will be determined by where coach Stephen Kearney chooses to play Nikorima. Nikorima came to the club looking to cement a spot in the halves, however I believe he is best used in tandem with recruit Wade Egan at hooker.
The rise of Chanel Harris-Tavita was the highlight of 2019, and his immense talent would be wasted being used as a bench utility. However, whether the usually cautious Kearney is prepared to put a player with just 13 games experience into the no.6 position ahead of Nikorima remains to be seen.
Predictions from some pundits about the Warriors possibly being a wooden spoon team appear a long way off the mark. At worst, the individual brilliance of Tuivasa-Sheck and to a lesser extent Harris-Tavita should win them enough games to not finish last. However, at their best, the Warriors have shown they have a side capable of matching any team in the comp.
So Roarers, who will be the no.6? And how far can the Warriors go this year?
conrod
Guest
why? @max power
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
Jacko, Townsville to Sydney would be no different as is Melbourne to Brisbane time wise and the Storm manage the logistics of it all and are Multiple premiership winners. Sorry but I cannot see that as being the reason. They have a motivational mental issue, there seems to be an inability to focus for the full 80 minutes.
Micko
Roar Rookie
If that was true then why have the West Coast Eagles had so much success in the AFL? This travel thing is a lame excuse for their mediocrity, along with the bizarre kiwi victimhood complex, where they're determined to believe they don't win the NRL due to some conspiracy against them from those big mean aussies.
Cigar Field Sobers
Roar Rookie
Sad but true. My cousin here in Perth is a big Warriors fan, can’t recall how many times I have sat and watched his afternoon crumble as the NZWs go off the boil when the game is there to be won. To me they have always appeared to start dragging their bottom lip when a score is building against them, and I have no stats to back me up here but I would be very surprised to learn their percentage of games won when significantly in arrears at half-time was at all significant. I’m sure there hasn’t been enough noise made in the rooms when the long-established mediocrity sets in once again. Yes, they are from Auckland but really they are representing the whole of NZ in a way, and they have been coming up short for their entire involvement in the comp which has seemed at times to be the embodiment of a type of inferiority complex : not unlike what the cricket team displayed in the test series over here. These are mere observations, and they are tempered by the fact that at times the Warriors are razzle-dazzle, impromptu wizards, who constantly prove they can play jawdropping footy and are capable of winning games against anybody. It’s just that the chasm between their best and their worst performance has always been way too big.
Greg
Roar Pro
there were calls in the offseason from some ex player (cant remember who and cant find the article now) to give them 2 match home and away blocks with a bit of common sense involved in which 2 matches also. Eg. play away against Broncos one week and Titans the next before 2 home games. Next away trip to Sydney teams etc to ease their travel load. Not sure if the Warriors players would be for or against this though as it does mean more time away from family. In any case I just quickly looked at the draw and definitely nothing like this has been done.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Spot on assessment, souvalis. Where is any improvement coming from for the Warriors ? They have bought no one new apart from Wayde Egan who has been so disappointing at Penrith since his promising junior days. They have lost Luke who was on his last legs. And yes , who is getting Johnson's money now ? The rest are the same as last year. They now have about 5 part time hookers. They have a couple of handy scrappers in the pack who try hard ( Jazz, Burr & Tohu) but who can never dominate an opposition pack. Their back 3 are their main positives via starting their sets and eating some metres, but their backs in general are pedestrian with just an odd good match from Hiku. The halves are uninspiring with only Harris-Tevita offering some potential hope for the future , whilst Green & Kikorima offer some experience, but little guidance. Only RTS has the scope to create anything, and he is generally left to do it all. Unless they are hiding away a bunch of talented youngsters to introduce later this year, I would be very surprised to see this team get out of the bottom 4 in 2020.
Jacko
Guest
I have no idea why they went after Nikorima...To me it was Kearney wanting to show a signing....And Kearney was assistant coach at the Bronco's....Harris-Tavita was playing well and should be given time....Agree kearney is a cautious coach...he needs to change that
Jacko
Guest
Hi Noosa....I believe the reason for their constant inconsistency and failure to win a comp is travel requirements. Spending 2 days travelling internationally ever 2nd weekend has to take its toll....Then we see them lose games they should win...Its not surprising to me...
rden
Roar Rookie
They need to get Tohu Harris back in, not much of an individual feature on the scorecard but the stats of the games he's there vs those he missed are "interesting." He's got a good game/prediction brain on him and not afraid to use his voice to push the youngun's to where they'll capitalise from it.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
The stats back up your opinion on Hiku and it's good to see you're not afraid to back a possibly unpopular opinion. I do recall a finals game years ago when Manly were little hope but played with great spirit and Hiku was really good. I'll have another look at him this season and will be open to changing my mind.
Greg
Roar Pro
Have to agree to disagree on this one. Hes mostly known as a defensive centre. The likes of Johnson and Harris have often spoken glowingly about his defence, especially his communication with those around him. But his attack stacks up pretty well also. He averages over 100m a game. Hiku was equal with Latrell for most try assists by a centre last year and 1 TA behind (several equal first centres) the year before. In 2018 he played inside Fusitua, Fusitua became leading try scorer. In 2019 he swapped sides and played inside Maumolo. Maumolo then became Warriors leading try scorer and winger of the year. I know other factors contributed to this, but I think Hiku's importance to the Warriors is massively underestimated. In my (unpopular) opinion he is definitely one of the better centres going around.
Greg
Roar Pro
Don't think you can judge Johnson based off last year alone. He had no pre-season to gel with the team. Then played busted all season. I think we will see a different Johnson this year. Having said that don't really think the decision was wrong to let him go. He was being over paid for what he had delivered and (according to Kearney) basically sulked when told to earn his contract. But, letting him go is one thing. Letting him go with no back-up plan and then making a rash decision to sign a lesser half when you have someone with serious talent coming through is another. Paasi is so skillful for a big man. He needs to be allowed to offload and play before the line at will. If he was part of the Warriors side of 5-10 years ago where this was encouraged he would be a very different player. More than anyone else in the team I think he is stifled by the game plan. Bunty looked a very handy backrower in his debut season. Ran great lines and had good footwork. I don't think he offers much in the middle of the field. Agree Blairs best days are a long way behind him.
Greg
Roar Pro
I think they are a big chance IF Harris-Tavita plays 6. Unfortunately I don't think he will start there. Kearney is too cautious as a coach. A halves combination of Green and Nikorima just doesn't have enough points in them.
bop
Roar Rookie
anyone want to make some money this year , put it on warriors to make the top 8
adam smith
Guest
Warriors won’t win a thing until they address the culture of mediocrity that they have allowed to permeate all levels since their foundation. Unfortunately, Mathew Ridge’s assessment of the Warriors upon his arrival still holds true. A bunch of amateurs who get paid to play, no professionalism to be found.
max power
Guest
milne will not play
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
every season for the past several seasons I look at the Warriors roster & think that they just have to be there this season and it just does not happen. Why I will never know. They have had more owners and coaches that I have had hot breakfasts. They have had some very well credentialed coaches a couple a caliber well and truly above their current coach, but regardless they just never seem to get there. Could I honestly pick them in my top 8 for 2020, well not really
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Weighing up Shaun Johnson’s bang for buck at the Sharkies , let’s not forget he suffered the ignominy of being hooked late in one game and there were others where he should’ve been, Kearney wasn’t wrong in letting him walk. Have they ever ever won a game on a 50 50 refs call ? Haven’t done anything in the player market, Egans only played in 29 NRL games and at this stage doesn’t look any better than Roache or Lawton..where did Johnson’s saved money go ? Times up for Adam Blair, Jazz and Burr cover him easily, Bunty and Paasi are playing stale as well and along with the entire three quarter line hopefully copped a pre season training rocket. Can’t see them going any better than last year, it’s more of the same.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I don't believe Hiku is under rated myself. He's been going ok for a fair few years now but is not in the same league as the top centres. I must have been one of the few Manly supporters who was happy to lose Blake Green , reliable 5/8's who don't threaten have never been of interest to me. I believe the Warriors will need to unearth a new crop of local stars to be a force again and hopefully that is in the next couple of years. A title win for them would be great.
Paul
Roar Guru
In the spirit of positivity, perhaps you could say "Kearney as a coach was a very fine footballer and the Warriors should let him focus on those playing memories, rather than worrying about "helping" the current team". Just kidding! This is another very well written piece, by the way.